Prospect Grant Green called up

Updated 10:26 pm, Sunday, July 7, 2013

Kansas City, Mo. --

Infielder Grant Green, the A's top pick in the 2009 draft, will be joining the team in Pittsburgh on Monday, according to several sources.

Green, 25, is batting .318 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs for Triple-A Sacramento; The question mark for him always has been his defense and the A's have moved him from shortstop to the outfield and then back to the infield in recent seasons. He has been playing second base all season at Sacramento and has improved at the position, according to reports.

Green, a right-handed hitter, is likely to be in a platoon with Eric Sogard. With the Pirates throwing left-hander Jeff Locke, that means Green will make his big-league debut Monday at PNC Park. The A's face another lefty, Francisco Liriano, on Wednesday.

The corresponding move probably would involve infielder Adam Rosales, who is in a 3-for-31 funk with 10 strikeouts, and hitting .200. Rosales is out of options, so would have to be designated for assignment if he is the player who comes off the roster.

Colon will start Sunday: Manager Bob Melvinconfirmed that Bartolo Colon, the A's lone All-Star selection, will start Sunday, two days before the All-Star Game. Melvin said he is hopeful that if Colon does not participate in the All-Star Game, closer Grant Balfour will be chosen to replace him.

Starting on Sunday is likely to render Colon ineligible for the game, although it is his choice; he would not be able to pitch more than one inning. Teams generally dislike Sunday starters working in the event.

Colon said through interpreter Ariel Prietothat he doesn't know what he'll choose to do; it might depend on how many innings he throws Sunday.

If Colon is ineligible, he'll still be considered a member of the American League team. Melvin said that AL manager Jim Leylandwas aware that Colon would be pitching Sunday. That suggests that Leyland might have had in mind a potential replacement for Colon in Balfour, who was a baffling omission from Saturday's selections.

A's on deck

Monday

at Pirates

4:05 p.m. CSNCA

Colon (11-3) vs.

Locke (8-1)

Tuesday

at Pirates

4:05 p.m. CSNCA

Straily (5-2) vs.

Cole (4-1)

Wednesday

at Pirates

4:05 p.m. CSNCA

Milone (8-7) vs.

Liriano (8-3)

A's leading off

On to Pittsburgh: On Monday, the A's open a three-game series against the Pirates - the first time Oakland has played at PNC Park since 2002, when the A's swept a three-game series. The A's are 9-0 overall against the Pirates. Thunderstorms are forecast all three nights.